OUDaily.com | Aaron Colen

Teams to battle history in Fiesta Bowl fight

December 13, 2010 | 3 comments

The 2010 OU football team has spent all season overcoming stigmas from last year — road woes, quarterback play and kicking were all storylines from the beginning of the season through its very end. READ MORE

December graduate Aaron Colen bids farewell to The Daily

December 8, 2010 | 0 comments

After 2 1/2 years, this will be my last column as a member of The Oklahoma Daily’s staff. In that time, I was able to get a taste of most everything OU sports had to offer. READ MORE

OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson accepts Indiana head coaching job

December 7, 2010 | 0 comments

The Indiana Hoosiers have given new football coach Kevin Wilson a seven-year contract worth $1.2 million per year. READ MORE

Sooners confirm that defense wins championships

December 6, 2010 | 2 comments

With their backs against the wall and one half to save their Big 12 title hopes, the Sooners’ defensive players took it upon themselves to make sure OU got the win Saturday night against Nebraska. READ MORE

Sooners to face very different Nebraska offense, coach Willie Martinez says

December 3, 2010 | 0 comments

When the No. 9 OU football team plays the No. 13 Nebraska Cornhuskers this Saturday for the Big 12 Championship, the Sooners won’t be facing the same team they saw last season. READ MORE

Travis Lewis happy with decision to choose OU over Nebraska

December 2, 2010 | 0 comments

Junior linebacker Travis Lewis is glad he didn’t stay committed to play for Nebraska. The San Antonio native was committed to Nebraska right up until signing day, when he spurned the Huskers and has since become one of the best defensive players in OU history. READ MORE

Sooners match OSU's speed with Jeremy Beal at linebacker position

November 30, 2010 | 0 comments

After trying some different tactics in the 47-41 win over Oklahoma State, the OU defense will be back in its comfort zone Saturday against Nebraska. In Stillwater, the Sooners used the “50” defensive formation to match the speed of the Cowboys’ offense. READ MORE

OU football busts through Pokes, into title game

November 29, 2010 | 0 comments

After an unpredictable final year for the Big 12 as we know it, the dust has settled and we’re left with a classic matchup of conference powerhouses to end an era. With OU’s thrilling 47-41 win over Oklahoma State on Saturday in Stillwater, the Sooners clinched a berth in the Big 12’s last title game to play historic North program Nebraska this Saturday in Arlington, Texas. READ MORE

Sooners come out on top of Bedlam shootout

November 28, 2010 | 1 comment

The No. 13 OU football team made the big plays in the biggest moments to beat No. 9 Oklahoma State and essentially seal a berth in the final Big 12 Championship game in the foreseeable future. READ MORE

Keys to the Game: Bedlam 2010

November 26, 2010 | 0 comments

In one of the biggest Bedlam games in years, OU will be the underdog going on the road to try to upset the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Last week, the Sooners have finally proved they can win on the road, but Saturday’s environment — and opponent — will most likely be more difficult. READ MORE

COLUMN: Bedlam shows how Big 12 has changed

November 25, 2010 | 0 comments

Saturday’s Bedlam football game will showcase yet another way in which the landscape of Big 12 football has dramatically changed this season. READ MORE

COLUMN: OU using different, new plays

November 22, 2010 | 0 comments

For the second week in a row, the Sooners’ offense showcased a new formation, and the Baylor Bears had no answer for it. After OU’s opening possession, the Sooners came back with a diamond backfield formation that put senior running back DeMarco Murray, freshman running back Roy Finch and freshman fullback Trey Millard on the field at the same time. READ MORE

COLUMN: Bears ascend from cupcake to contender

November 19, 2010 | 0 comments

The OU football team travels to Waco, Texas, this weekend to play the Baylor Bears, a perennial cupcake against the Sooners, but things may be different this year. The Sooners have never lost to Baylor — that’s 19- straight wins. And the games are almost never close. READ MORE

COLUMN: This OU men's basketball season is about team chemistry not wins

November 18, 2010 | 0 comments

Men’s college basketball has finally started, albeit rather quietly in Norman. Whether the football team is undefeated or winless, it will probably always garner more attention on this campus. READ MORE

Beal's leadership, example appreciated by team

November 16, 2010 | 0 comments

Senior defensive end Jeremy Beal may not get a lot of national attention, but his teammates and coaches certainly don’t take him for granted. “He sometimes goes under the radar, but not with us,” coach Bob Stoops said. READ MORE

Sooners nearly mistake-free in rout of Red Raiders

November 15, 2010 | 1 comment

There wasn’t much for OU players and coaches to complain about after the Sooners’ 45-7 win over Texas Tech on Saturday in Norman. Besides a touchdown given up on the first drive and a missed field goal in the third quarter, OU didn’t make many mistakes. READ MORE

OU celebrates senior night with blowout win over Texas Tech

November 13, 2010 | 0 comments

The No. 16 OU football team bounced back from last week’s loss to Texas A&M and got revenge for last season’s 41-13 loss to Texas Tech on Saturday with a 45-7 win against the Red Raiders. READ MORE

Football: OU continues dominance into halftime against Texas Tech

November 13, 2010 | 0 comments

The No. 16 OU football team’s offense cooled off a bit in the second half, but its defense kept up its pace as the Sooners took a 38-7 lead into the halftime locker room. READ MORE

Sooner football poised for revenge

November 12, 2010 | 0 comments

The No. 16 OU football team (7-2, 3-2 Big 12) will have a shot at revenge when it hosts Texas Tech, a team that handed the 2009 Sooners one of their five losses, at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. READ MORE

Sooner football coaches, players disagree over causes of loss

November 9, 2010 | 2 comments

The No. 16 OU football team seemed confused after practice Monday about the root of their problems during Saturday’s 33-19 loss to the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, Texas. Coach Bob Stoops said he thought his team was possibly too hyped up for the game. READ MORE

Ronnell Lewis, Casey Walker due back from injury soon, coach Bob Stoops says

November 9, 2010 | 0 comments

Coach Bob Stoops said sophomore linebacker Ronnell Lewis returned to practice this week, and sophomore defensive lineman Casey Walker will likely return next week. Walker has missed the last five games with a sprained knee that he suffered during the Sept. 25 Cincinnati game. READ MORE

COLUMN: Old issues still haunting OU football

November 8, 2010 | 2 comments

There are plenty of similarities between this OU football team and last season’s. The Sooners started off the season 6-0. Not all of the wins were pretty, but they were wins nonetheless. READ MORE

COLUMN: OU must stop Tannehill to win at Kyle Field

November 5, 2010 | 0 comments

The OU football team’s upcoming game against Texas A&M has been on the radar as a dangerous test since the schedule was released in the spring. The Sooners haven’t been terribly impressive away from Norman in 2010, and lost to Missouri in their only true road game so far this season. READ MORE

COLUMN: Corey Nelson returning to school he 'spurned'

November 4, 2010 | 0 comments

Last spring, then-high school senior Corey Nelson seemed to be a lock to attend Texas A&M, having been committed to the Aggies for seven months before switching his commitment to OU late in the recruiting process. READ MORE

Pryce Macon battling giants at defensive tackle

November 3, 2010 | 0 comments

Senior defensive end Pryce Macon has had to spend time at defensive tackle recently due to team injuries, which he said has been a challenge because of his size. READ MORE

Tight end productivity opens up offense

November 2, 2010 | 0 comments

Junior wide receiver Ryan Broyles had a record-setting night against Colorado, but what might be more important for the Sooners is what the tight ends did — and have done this season. READ MORE

OU football readies for comeback against Colorado

October 29, 2010 | 0 comments

The No. 9 OU football team almost never loses two games in a row, even in bad years, and it will look to continue that trend Saturday night against Colorado. READ MORE

Mismatch against Tiger offense frustrated OU defense

October 28, 2010 | 0 comments

Senior defensive end Jeremy Beal said he couldn’t remember a game in his career at OU during which the defense didn’t even touch the opposing quarterback. In Saturday’s loss against Missouri, the Sooners’ pass rush was completely neutralized didn’t get a single sack on Missouri junior quarterback Blaine Gabbert. READ MORE

COLUMN: Scholarships wasted on kickers

October 28, 2010 | 1 comment

When a friend text messaged me Tuesday telling me OU has four kickers on scholarship and another kicker promised one, my first reaction was disbelief. It seemed like some sort of joke. READ MORE

OU football falls victim to upset on road

October 25, 2010 | 0 comments

In its first true road game, the No. 1 OU football team fell to the No. 11 Missouri Tigers 36-27 on Saturday night. The Sooners dropped to 6-1 with the defeat and 2-1 in Big 12 games. Missouri remained undefeated, moving to 7-0 and 3-0 in conference play. READ MORE

OU Football Report Card: OU-Missouri

October 25, 2010 | 0 comments

The Daily's sports desk grades the Sooners' performance against Missouri on Saturday in Columbia, Mo. READ MORE

No. 1 Sooners fall to Missouri in 1st true road game

October 24, 2010 | 0 comments

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The BCS No. 1 OU football team fell to the No. 11 Missouri Tigers on Saturday night 36-27 in the team’s first true road game in Columbia, Mo. READ MORE

Oklahoma elections: State to elect new education leader for 1st time in 20 years

October 23, 2010 | 3 comments

During this year’s state election, voters will choose the first new state Superintendent of Public Instruction in 20 years, with current superintendent Sandy Garrett not running for re-election. Democratic state Senator Susan Paddack; Republican Janet Barresi, founder of two Oklahoma charter schools; and independent Richard Cooper, a career educator; are the three candidates campaigning to replace Garrett. READ MORE

Sooners must maintain poise, dominate 4th quarter to win

October 22, 2010 | 0 comments

No. 1 OU travels to Columbia, Mo., Saturday to face the No. 11 Missouri Tigers in a battle of undefeated Big 12 teams. The Daily lays out some of the keys for an OU win. READ MORE

COLUMN: National title hopes riding on prime-time game

October 21, 2010 | 0 comments

In sports, one thing is certain: All streaks eventually come to an end. Some are long, some are short, but they all end. And the longer they go, the nearer you draw to the inevitable ending. READ MORE

No. 1 ranking not important right now, players say

October 19, 2010 | 0 comments

Senior linebacker Travis Lewis said he didn’t want the Sooners to be ranked at the top of the first BCS poll. “Sometimes when a team gets to No. 1, it can lose its edge,” Lewis said. “It doesn’t matter right now.” READ MORE

Returns of Alexander, Box boost defense

October 19, 2010 | 0 comments

Junior defensive lineman Frank Alexander was second on the team in tackles against Iowa State, and senior linebacker Austin Box also returned to action Saturday. READ MORE

Sooner defense still improving

October 19, 2010 | 0 comments

Despite holding Iowa State to no points Saturday night, senior defensive end Jeremy Beal said the team still hasn’t put it together completely yet. “We played a great game on Saturday, but it still wasn’t a complete game,” Beal said. “We just need to carry the momentum and keep getting better.” READ MORE

Roy Finch debuts strong in blowout win

October 18, 2010 | 0 comments

Freshman running back Roy Finch made his highly anticipated debut Saturday in OU’s 52-0 win against Iowa State — and he did not disappoint. The Niceville, Fla., native got his first collegiate carry in the second quarter, a five-yard gain. He then got two more, first for 13 yards and then for 17, showing everyone what they had only heard about Finch previously. READ MORE

OU focused on Cyclones, Venables says

October 15, 2010 | 0 comments

The Sooners have turned their focus to their next opponent, Iowa State. The Cyclones are 3-3 this year, but OU isn’t taking them lightly, defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “They have to feel good about themselves for sure after beating Texas Tech and challenging the other teams on their schedule,” Venables said. READ MORE

COLUMN: Josh Luchs' confessional only further exposes old problem

October 15, 2010 | 0 comments

I recently read the Sports Illustrated article by former football agent Josh Luchs, who admitted to paying dozens of players thousands of dollars, not to mention compensating them in other ways like food or concert tickets, all while piling up countless NCAA violations. READ MORE

DeMarco Murray approaching OU records

October 13, 2010 | 0 comments

Senior running back DeMarco Murray is approaching some prestigious records in his final season, and Murray said he is honored to be talked about in the same breath as OU greats. “It’s breathtaking to be mentioned in the category of those great players,” Murray said. READ MORE

Pryce Macon finding his place on the OU football team

October 5, 2010 | 0 comments

Pryce Macon has had to wait patiently for his opportunity, but now that it has arrived, he said all the waiting has been worth it. “It just made me learn that you can’t always just give up,” Macon said. After not seeing any action last season as a reserve defensive end, Macon has stepped in this year and made some big plays. READ MORE

Sooners beat Texas for the first time since 2007

October 4, 2010 | 0 comments

Coach Bob Stoops said the Sooners are making their games closer than they need to be, but at 5-0, there are definitely worse problems to have. “I can’t see 5-0 as a bad thing,” senior linebacker Travis Lewis said. “I’ll take a win by three, by one or by 20. It doesn’t matter.” READ MORE

Sooners get just enough breaks in win over Texas

October 2, 2010 | 0 comments

The Sooners got a few bounces in their favor Saturday, just enough for them to come out on top in the Red River Rivalry over Texas 28-20 at the Cotton Bowl. READ MORE

What to watch for at the Red River Rivalry

September 30, 2010 | 0 comments

The Daily's Aaron Colen tells you what you should watch for at the Red River Rivalry on Saturday. READ MORE

COLUMN: Have fun Saturday, but keep the trash talk in check

September 29, 2010 | 0 comments

Guns or violence on any campus at any time is a big deal. For example, when the Virginia Tech shootings occurred, the effects were felt even here at OU. So, when an incident of that nature occurs at the University of Texas during the week leading up to the annual OU-Texas rivalry game, it definitely gives me, and probably many students on campus, pause for reflection. READ MORE

Texas players at OU add dimension to Red River Rivalry

September 28, 2010 | 0 comments

Like a lot of America, the OU football program has been notorious for recruiting players from the state of Texas. Some of this year’s team’s most notable contributors hail from the Lone Star State. That’s just more fuel to the fire that is the Red River Rivalry. It isn’t just a big deal to the players and schools involved — it extends to hometowns and high schools. READ MORE

September 27, 2010 | 0 comments

The good news: OU won its first game of the season on the road. The bad news: Nothing about the game seems to indicate the Sooners have overcome the problems that plagued them all last season. The first problem: Tackling. OU’s coaches have said for weeks the Sooners’ tackling has been sub par. Against Air Force, the Sooners were gashed by the Falcons’ running game, partially due to missed tackles. READ MORE

OU football team looks for success away from Norman

September 24, 2010 | 0 comments

Undefeated OU, ranked eighth in the country, will take its show on the road this weekend to face Cincinnati. Coach Bob Stoops and his team recognize Cincinnati is not a team to be overlooked, based on the success they’ve had over the past few years. READ MORE

Articles by Aaron Colen